Center

Duties on shoes 'step backward'

By Yu Liang (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-30 07:02

The Chinese Government yesterday denounced the European Commission's decision to collect anti-dumping duties on leather shoes from China, saying the penalty was not justified.

The European Union (EU) decided to adopt provisional tariffs on Chinese leather shoes starting April 7, claiming it found "State-supported dumping."

"The EU decision is a step backward because it deprived companies' right to respond," said Chong Quan, the commerce ministry's spokesperson .

He explained the EU declined to grant market economic treatment to 13 investigated Chinese firms, neglecting the fact that all of them were private or foreign-invested companies.

The EU also declined to give market treatment to any other Chinese leather shoemakers without giving any explanation. The market economy treatment helps companies get a low-penalty duty in dumping claims.

Chong said the EU anti-dumping measures would also hurt the European side.

According the statistics of the ministry, the previous 15 EU members have established 478 shoe production plants in China.

(China Daily 03/30/2006 page9)